Electron emission structure and X-ray tube including the same

Abstract

An electron emission structure according to embodiments of the inventive concept includes a cathode electrode and electron emission yarns each having a yarn shape and disposed in the cathode electrode. Here, the cathode electrode includes a plurality of first conductive panels spaced apart from each other in a first direction and at least one second conductive panel that crosses the first conductive panels in the first direction. Also, each of the first conductive panels includes at least one groove at an upper portion thereof. The second conductive panel is inserted to the groove of each of the first conductive panels. Each of the electron emission yarns is disposed between the first conductive panels. Each of the electron emission yarns contacts the second conductive panel. Each of the electron emission yarns is mechanically fixed and vertically aligned as well as arranged regularly by the second conductive panel and one pair of adjacent first conductive panels of the first conductive panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electron emission structure comprising:
 a cathode electrode; and 
 electron emission yarns, each having a yarn shape and disposed in the cathode electrode, 
 wherein the cathode electrode comprises: 
 a plurality of first conductive panels spaced apart from each other in a first direction; and 
 at least one second conductive panel that crosses the first conductive panels in the first direction, 
 wherein each of the first conductive panels comprises at least one groove at an upper portion thereof, 
 the second conductive panel is inserted into the groove of each of the first conductive panels, 
 each of the electron emission yarns is disposed between the first conductive panels, 
 each of the electron emission yarns contacts the second conductive panel, and 
 each of the electron emission yarns is mechanically fixed by the second conductive panel and one pair of adjacent first conductive panels of the first conductive panels. 
 
     
     
       2. The electron emission structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the electron emission yarns contacts one pair of adjacent first conductive panels of the first conductive panels. 
     
     
       3. The electron emission structure of  claim 1 , wherein the electron emission yarns are spaced apart from each other in a second direction that crosses the first direction with the second conductive panel therebetween. 
     
     
       4. The electron emission structure of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first conductive panels and the second conductive panel has a plate shape,
 each of the first conductive panels has a first thickness in the first direction, 
 each of the first conductive panels extends in the second direction, 
 the second conductive panel has a second thickness in the second direction, and 
 the second conductive panel extends in the first direction. 
 
     
     
       5. The electron emission structure of  claim 4 , wherein the electron emission yarns are arranged in the first direction and the second direction,
 a first pitch between one pair of electron emission yarns, which are adjacent to each other in the first direction, is a sum of the first thickness and a diameter of each of the electron emission yarns, and 
 a second pitch between one pair of electron emission yarns, which are adjacent to each other in the second direction, is a sum of the second thickness and the diameter of each of the electron emission yarns. 
 
     
     
       6. The electron emission structure of  claim 4 , wherein each of both edges of the second conductive panel is bent into a “L”-shape, and
 each of the both edges of the second conductive panel extends in the second direction. 
 
     
     
       7. The electron emission structure of  claim 6 , wherein each of the both edges of the second conductive panel is spaced apart from outermost conductive panels of the first conductive panels in the first direction, and
 a portion of the electron emission yarns is disposed between each of the both edges of the second conductive panel and the outermost conductive panels of the first conductive panels. 
 
     
     
       8. The electron emission structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first conductive panels comprises a plurality of grooves at an upper portion thereof,
 the at least one second conductive panel is provided in plurality, 
 each of the second conductive panels is inserted into each of the grooves, 
 the second conductive panels are spaced apart from each other in a second direction that crosses the first direction, and 
 each of the electron emission yarns is disposed between the second conductive panels. 
 
     
     
       9. The electron emission structure of  claim 8 , wherein a spaced distance between one pair of adjacent first conductive panels of the first conductive panels is equal to a diameter of each of the electron emission yarns. 
     
     
       10. The electron emission structure of  claim 8 , wherein a spaced distance between one pair of adjacent second conductive panels of the second conductive panels is equal to a diameter of each of the electron emission yarns. 
     
     
       11. The electron emission structure of  claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of each of the electron emission yarns vertically protrudes further than each of a top surface of each of the first conductive panels and a top surface of the second conductive panel. 
     
     
       12. The electron emission structure of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first conductive panels and the second conductive panel at least is connected to a power supply, and
 the first conductive panels and the second conductive panel contact each other. 
 
     
     
       13. An X-ray tube comprising:
 an electron emission structure; 
 an anode electrode spaced vertically from the electron emission structure; and 
 a gate electrode disposed between the anode electrode and the electron emission structure, 
 wherein the electron emission structure comprises: 
 a cathode electrode having a grid shape; and 
 electron emission yarns, each having a yarn shape and disposed at a corner of the grid shape, 
 wherein the cathode electrode comprises: 
 a plurality of first conductive panels spaced apart from each other in a first direction; and 
 at least one second conductive panel that crosses the first conductive panels in the first direction, 
 wherein each of the first conductive panels comprises at least one groove at an upper portion thereof, 
 the second conductive panel is inserted into the groove, and 
 one pair of adjacent first conductive panels of the first conductive panels and a portion of the second conductive panel between the one pair of first conductive panels provide the corner of the grid shape. 
 
     
     
       14. The X-ray tube of  claim 13 , wherein each of the electron emission yarns contacts the one pair of first conductive panels and the second conductive panel. 
     
     
       15. The X-ray tube of  claim 13 , wherein each of the electron emission yarns has a height greater than that of the second conductive panel and equal to or less than that of each of the first conductive panels. 
     
     
       16. The X-ray tube of  claim 13 , wherein each of the electron emission yarns is fixed by the first conductive panels and the second conductive panel. 
     
     
       17. The X-ray tube of  claim 13 , wherein the groove has a width in a second direction that crosses the first direction,
 the second conductive panel has a thickness in the second direction, and 
 the thickness of the second conductive panel is equal to the width of the groove. 
 
     
     
       18. The X-ray tube of  claim 13 , wherein the groove has a depth in a vertical direction,
 the second conductive panel has a height in the vertical direction, and 
 the height of the second conductive panel is equal to the depth of the groove.